James R Thompson Center – United States Post Office

Disclaimer: Madame Tussaud called, they want the wax sculptures back.
Nested not so much in the heart of the Chicago loop but closer to the spleen of the Chicago loop this fine establishments boasts broken display stands, missing supplies and long serpentine wait lines where people can exercise true creativity in using the uncharted space to form a line that doesn’t block the door.
Usually two out of the three counters are occupied by 2 of the 3 faces that run this joint. Even when the wait line extends outside the post office to block the elevators that third counter will never be filled. I began to think that having three USPS employees in close proximity could be prohibited due to fire and safety regulations.
Luckily so far nothing happened to me at this location that caused the onset of a major depressive disorder but as my trips become more frequent I’m expecting something to happen any day now.
The most important characteristic of this post office branch is the general kind of visceral feeling of sadness and hopelessness that envelopes you as soon as you catch glimpse of the faces of the individuals behind service desk. Faces that have not seen a happy day since the depression of 1929. I have nothing against them and although very dry and robotic in delivering responses that border on the level of military commands you cannot help but understand and sympathize with those employees. You the biggest challenge your brain has is explaining the difference between a black slip, a pink slip and a blue slip time slows down for you and a process of petrification sets in. I have seen people angry at the service desk complaining about packages that didn’t arrive but those employees never broke the gargoyle protocol putting on a fake smile and pushing them over like an old elevated dam that has seen so much turbulent waters.
So when you visit this place try the following techniques of copying:
1– Lower your expectations. When I say lower I mean have abysmally low expectations.
2– Know what you want. Know your questions. Do you want priority? Do you want insurance? do you want signature or registered mail ?
3– Under no circumstance ask more than one question at once. This is guaranteed to throw and wrench in the gears. One question at a time to avoid overloading the processor.
4– If you pay with a card have it signed and display it after you swipe. If your card is not signed you’ll might experience a flashback to a scolding episode from your parents. They’ll make you sign it. So don’t use and unsigned card.
5– Smile. Sometimes something magical happens and these robots can mirror your response with one. It is part of an ancient code in their core bios that can occasionally be triggered. But don’t expect a sincere smile because… well C’mon.

I just don’t understand why «a good day» is when there is more than one person actually working. Line out the door? Good time for a break! Ugh.

COULD SOMEONE FROM THIS USPS LOCATION PLEASE CONTACT ME!!!
I’ve tried calling, emailing, calling, emailing and have received no response either from this location or anyone at USPS. Your offices picked up a package (Click-​N-​Ship), we received an email confirmation stating that it was picked up and I received a tracking number. When I enter the tracking number onto the USPS site, it states that it was never picked up. Round and round we go.
This is around the holiday times and I’d hope that someone from USPS has the customer service standards to give us a call or contact us.

I typically don’t review ordinary businesses like this, but I had to let Chicago know how terrible this post office is. It’d be easier (and less time consuming) for one to send a letter or package via carrier pigeon than bother with this clap trap. Seriously, there is always a line which can usually be attributed to the ignorant, miserable employees who either hide in the back (FYI – we can see you back there, dummies. You’re not fooling anyone.) or move at a pace that even a snail would mock. It’s sad that in a city where people need jobs there are lazy, useless idiots who could give two effs working and making much more than they deserve. I doubt McDonald’s would hire any of these winners, but here they are taking up space in one of the busiest post offices in the city. Ah well, hopefully they’ll all be out of jobs once the Thompson Center is demolished.

I just left there after being over charged after asking for a world stamp NOT a roll of stamps. After the lady misheard me, and didn’t repeat the amount, I swiped my card, and went to put the stamps on my post cards, only to find 3 stamps that I payed for and a roll of stamps in the envelope. I walked back over there and she gave me the worst attitude insisting THREE TIMES that I had said I needed a roll of stamps. I asked her why I would ask for three stamps and a roll of stamps. She gave me attitude for 5 minutes and got the form. I left the roll of stamps on the counter, and she made me walk away from her counter so she could take care of other customers. When I walked back over there the stamps were gone, and I emptied out my whole purse to prove to her AND the supervisor that I don’t have them. They won’t give me a refund until after they count the drawer, to make sure there is one extra roll. If they don’t find the extra roll and return my money, I will be disputing it. I will never do business there again, just so I don’t have to deal with that woman’s attitude. She should be fired and I don’t even know how she got a job with USPS. I have also filed a report, and sent a letter to the Post Master General, as well as emailed them.

A temporal manifestation of hell. Workers are the absolute worst, hide in the back during peak times. Will never use the United States postal service again.

(Four stars is grading on a curve)
I’ve had packages stolen from my home address, so I decided to get a PO box. I picked this place because it’s easy to get on and off the L here (I decided to get the box at the beginning of February). To their credit, I have gotten all my packages delivered here… eventually. I don’t think the problem is a function of these postal employees, I think it’s a function of no one at central processing knowing where this post office is. I get Priority Mail two-​day packages several times a month. The least amount of time one has taken to arrive is four days. The longest is two weeks. I feel like maybe I should get my box switched to a post office that is better known, but I’m not sure that’s how mail in the Loop works. I’ve had stuff delivered to other post offices, I’ve had stuff «forwarded» even though the address is correct every single time, I’ve had things marked «returned to sender» that mysteriously show up days later. I suspect it would be the same at any Loop branch.
As for the rest of it, it’s the post office, what do you want? They certainly aren’t as mean as the postal workers in my home zip code. I mean, they aren’t helpful or friendly, either, but they aren’t actively abusive. Yeah, the self serve kiosk is almost always broken, and when it’s not you still have to hit it like The Fonz to get your stamps out of the printer. Finally, I’d suggest getting there between 10 – 11 AM. There are usually two people working the counter, and maybe only 4 – 5 people in line during that period, sometimes fewer. Of course you’re screwed if you get there right before work or at lunch time.

No stars! I can’t believe this. Over 30 people in line and they all close registers.

I have such low expectations of post offices to start with, and this one never fails to do destroy that low bar. Worst employees I have seen to date, unhelpful, rude… and takes forever. I’ve never even written a Unilocal review before, but am so completely put off that I took the time to share. It was so bad it’s pathetic — and took 45 minutes to boot.

So, the Thompson Center is a depressing place to be at any day of the week. I think the depression emanates out of the basement where the DMV is located but I could be wrong… The only thing good going on in this building is the blood bank on the 2^nd floor. Otherwise, be prepared to feel sad whenever you walk through the doors.
As for my USPS review, this place is a joke. The wait time is exorbitant, the facilities are terrible, and the customer experience is horrendous. I wasn’t sure this was possible but this place makes the DMV feel like Magic Kingdom! I have a feeling James Thompson would request his name be removed from this building if he had to frequent this post office…
Today I had to mail something and looked up where the closest USPS location was to my office. It turns out it is in the Thompson Center. Against my better judgment I left right around the noon hour. When I walked into the USPS storefront I went straight to their automated kiosk but it wasn’t working. No surprise there I guess… I then looked towards the counter and there was one man toiling away behind it and a line snaking out the door into the Thomson Center’s massive atrium. I joined the back of the line and proceeded to wait. I waited some more. And followed that up by waiting a little longer.
One hour later I had moved maybe 20 feet and the same man was working away helping customers. Right as I reached the front of the line two USPS employees walk in the door having just had lunch. This is when I almost lost my shhh. I get it. The USPS is underfunded, understaffed, etc. How can more than half your staff take lunch at the same time?!? The worst part was there was no apology or urgency to assist customers. Instead they just joked about behind the counters and then disappeared. I waited some more…
Eventually I was helped by the same man who had who had been toiling away the entire time and he was polite and helpful. I actually felt bad for him that he had to work there by himself while his colleagues act like fools and take lunch during arguably the busiest time at the post office. If I could give 0 stars I would…

I would give this place zero stars if possible. It is staffed by the most uncaring, unmotivated, surely Union and therefore untouchable people I have ever encountered. Most times I go, the line is out the door and I have come at all hours so it’s not a matter of peak times. There is only ever one person working at the counter despite the lines and that one person always moves like they only have one person to wait on. Unlike businesses that employ people with a work ethic, you don’t sense any urgency from them to alleviate the line whatsoever. It would not be so awful if they at least acknowledged to people that the wait is too long and tell you they are sorry for the delay, LIE TO US! They all purposefully avoid eye contact with you just so you know they feel you’re unimportant. There is one middle age black guy that works there who seems like a zombie when he deals with you, no joke. They just keep their heads down or look straight into their screen and MOVE SLOWLY, almost on purpose, like the person in a parking spot at Costco that knows you’re waiting for them to get out and seems to take their time on purpose just to spite you. I have never had an experience where I actually feel like the employees HATE the customers and the customers don’t have a choice but to go there. And the machine that weighs packages and sells stamps? It’s ALWAYS out of service so no, don’t even suggest it. Honestly, if you swapped out these employees with kids from McDonald’s it would be a huge improvement.

There should be a way to put negative reviews!!!
This place is a JOKE… I have been there a couple times out of the need. Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have a choice. I work right across the street.
Recently, I got there at 7.55 and stood in line outside with other 4 people ahead of me. An employee (Genous) opens the doors at 8.05 (the hours are 8.00−5.30 — the front door has erased the timing). Decided to give him a break as it was snowing/​raining outside. The line moves in — I asked him if the automated machine started working for mailing packages/​envelopes. He says he doesn’t know and I should check it myself. Interesting that he works there and doesn’t know if the Automated machine can do the job for me — I didn’t want to leave my spot in the line to check the machine as there were 3 other people behind me.
Now, I see a female employee walk into the office and goes in the back room.
There are 8 people in the line and 1 employee (Genous) assisting. On the top of that, it takes him more than 8 minutes to help one customer!!!
Finally, my turn comes — I didn’t want any extra services, so I get the regular mail. He wouldn’t take my credit card because it doesn’t contain signature. I showed him my ID — no luck!!! There’s a reason I haven’t signed my credit card (to prevent fraudulent charges). He says if I need to use my card — it must be signed. So, I look for a pen that works — guess what there isn’t a working pen there. And this guy just stands there and watches me — with no courtesy to help…
Finally, I decided to pay cash and leave…
The time on the clock is 8.35 with no sign of the other employee in the front who entered the office at 8.07…Must be enjoying her perks of working for the government — real classy and shameless

2 employees on staff at around 4:30pm on a weekday — nah, not a busy time at all. Line of 50+ people. Waited 15 minutes, didn’t move. Ridiculous. Why is this agency still in existence? Pathetic.

I come to this location because it is right off on the train but the wait time is insane. The line is out the door and they only have one person working. Zero sense of urgency. I like to go to the self post machine but 80% of the time it is out of service. I hope if they close this location, they don’t bother to relocate their employees. Horrible customer service. any questions I have had are answered as if I’m a complete imbecile. Why can’t we have better postal worker? For the amount they get paid they should at least smile.

Supervisor says here agent forgot to give her my application to change my address to the P. O I paid $ 64 for 6 months. Thats why I have not received mail to my P.O. Box for 2 months. So, I Bobby Glover asked for an refund.
The supervisor prints out a post office money order and hands it to me. I look at the money order and I stated to the supervisor that this money order you printed is only $ 32. The supervisor stated to me, well sir you didnt complete a change of mailing address form. Im thinking to myself there it is the evil is in her spirit for real.
I Bobby Glover stated to the lady supervisor even though you didn’t put in my information in the system. So your saying its my fault, your answer and solution is that I didn’t complete an change a of mailing address? Im thinking to myself once again that this must be a bad dream.
Then she say yes and she tells me to have a nice day and walks off to the back of the post office. Im tking wow! Im still in shock. Lol!
All and all I feel right is right. And the supervisor should have given me an full refund back of $ 64 because I never received mail into the P. O Box 641 413-​due to their error because her post office agent forgot to give Supervisor Ms Cecelia Wilson the P.O.Box form I fully completed on September 29, 2014.
I Bobby Glover discovered the post office supervisor name is Ms Cecelia Wilson who is afro american US Post Office located 100 W Randolph Chicago Illinois in the Thompson building downtown Chicago.
US Posted Office Protected by the Government.
This is what the Better Business Bureaus told me.
Thank you for contacting the BBB regarding your case. The casewas received by the BBB on December 7, 2014 and has been assigned case # 94 528 730 in our files. We regret to inform you that the BBB can not process your case as it is our policy to process only those cases that fall under the scope of the BBB’s activities. The case has been reviewed by one of our Complaint Specialists and was found to contain issues that are out of the BBB’s purview. The BBB can not assist in cases against a governmental agency.
Thank you for contacting the BBB.
Sincerely,
Esther Beltran
Inquiry Services Representative
All I can say is WOW!

I looked online to find out when the office opened. It said 7:30. I went into work early because the store said it’d be open. Of course the office wasn’t opened. They don’t have hours of operations listed on their door at all either.
I asked a nearby security guard what time they open. Her response was «whenever they feel like it». Seems to me this USPS is lazy and not customer focused.
I guess I’ll go elsewhere to ship my packages.
Thanks for nothing USPS!

Excuse me if I haven’t been to the post office in years but this is ridiculous! I went here after work today to buy some stamps for my friend’s birthday card and I was treated like an idiot. Mind you, I have a PhD. The woman at the far left kiosk was short tempered, militant, and apparently never took a customer service course in her life. If this is what people get going to the post office, then its understandable why they threaten to close them! If I had the option of «0» stars I would rate it that way. It would be better to have machines at this point… fire the staff and put in self-​serve kiosks. Business might improve!

By far the worst USPS I’ve been to! All their workers are miserable and could care less about their customers. Then again almost all of their locations I have visited are similar with employees alike

Nasty nasty incredibly nasty people.
They don’t want to ship anything for you. They close early. They are mean. They are unhelpful. They sigh at everything you say. They get pissed if you need assistance asking for postage rates for particular shipments.
The worst illustration:
I politely asked if they found my hat the day after I knew I forgot it on the counter…
They immediately told me, without blinking, that no one turned in a hat and there is no hat in lost and found… because they didn’t want to look in the box directly behind them or ask anyone else. I politely insisted that someone just look in lost and found and thanked them for making me the courtesy. She started to help someone else and ignored me! When I asked for a supervisor, they ignore me. When I make it clear that I wasn’t leaving until they check, someone actually looked in the box and saw my hat — and threw it at me while they walked away!
Second worst post office in the loop…

(This is the email I sent to USPS concerning the incident). On a side note. One of the customers found me at a store down the street about 30mins later, and shared with me her horrible story as well, in which the manager refused to help her because they closed in 2mins… This place is horrible!!!
— — — — — — — — — — —
This incident occurred 15 minutes before the branch was to close. The postal worker «Victor» (I did not get his last name) was absolutely rude, vulgar, racist, and completely unprofessional.
I paid for postage using the automatic machine, but once I realized it was priority mail, I waited in line to ask for priority tape to mark the package. Victor did not greet me, or say anything to me. When I approached I explained what I needed and he pointed and said «over there.» When I went to the side of the counter I saw he was pointing to priority tape behind the counter out of my reach. I asked he wanted me to go behind the counter because I could not reach it, and he responded «are you being smart with me?», to which I restated I could not reach the tape. He then mumbled «white bitch» and called for the next customer.
I was absolutely shocked and refused to leave the counter until I spoke to his manager, who was helping another customer but refused to speak with me after the incident. I have never EVER been treated this way nor called a racist epitaph by an employee. This is not to be tolerated and absolutely appalling.
I uploaded his picture to Unilocal for further documentation and to warn others of the horrible service I received at this branch, which has always been poor but never this vulgar. (
)
In addition, both Victor and his manager were rude to customers. Refusing to acknowledge their questions and displaying a poor attitude. I had two customers after the incident come up to me to share their stories and to offer apologies for what they witnessed involving me and Victor.
It is NO WONDER the USPS is going bankrupt and closing branches. I have not met one postal worker who has been friendly, greeted me, or acted like they cared about their job. I even considered going to FedEx to mail my package to avoid the hassle that is the typical postal worker; but I wanted to support the USPS… not any more. I average $ 100 a month in mailing packages, and I am giving my business to private institutions like FedEx and UPS. I refuse to be treated like dirt because you’re unable to train or take pride in your employees.